RADCLIFFE AC got their 2004 Road Championship under way last Sunday, with a visit to the Burnley 10k.

Young Jordan Beard set a great standard by winning the 1.5 mile fun run in 11 minutes 39 seconds.

The joy of coming in first is granted to very few runners and is always a great experience, so Radcliffe's talented junior should savour the moment.

Dawn Warriner was first girl home, only 40 seconds behind Jordan.

Thomas Hughes, (14.12), Anne Hughes, (20.32), David Wilson, (21.40), Rebecca Howard, (13,47), James Howard, (14.25) and Callum Ferguson (16.23) contributed to a good Radcliffe showing in this successful build-up to the big race.

Completing the 10k race were 221 runners, and Adrian Harris carried on in the same vein as last season, taking 23rd place overall, and 3rd among the over-45's in 38.12.

Alec Steele's 41.28 saw him into 6th place among the over-50's.

He was pursued by Arthur Warren, 8th over-50, just half a minute behind.

Steve Hamer came in 80th, 7th over-45, in 43.04, holding off a good effort from Frank Bradburn, whose 45.02 got him 4th over-55.

Tom West found the over-60's section a bit competitive, his respectable time of 48.52 gaining 5th in the category, a whole 7 minutes adrift of the first over-60.

The standard remains high even when you get to 60! Jim Sutcliffe tailed Tom round the course, ending up 16 seconds behind in 150th position.

Steve Higginbottom seemed to struggle a bit in 163rd, his time, 50.39 representing a bit of a struggle to get round the course.

Iain Harris managed 51.54 for 8th over-55, and Glenda Garry, exactly 20 seconds behind Iain, came in 4th lady over-40.

Denise Sutcliffe did 57.27 to come 5th over-45 and round off a good club performance.